Many of the NFL’s biggest stars will take part in the Pro Bowl Games 2026, which will be held during Super Bowl week ahead of Super Bowl LX. This year’s event features skills challenges and a 7-on-7 AFC vs NFC flag football game at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
Several players selected from the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will not participate because they are preparing for the Super Bowl. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also will not play, despite leading all players in fan voting for the second straight year.
Here is everything fans need to know about watching the Pro Bowl Games 2026.
Pro Bowl Games 2026 Time, Channel, and How to Watch
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games will air live Tuesday, Feb. 3, with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN during “Postseason NFL Countdown.” From there, “Progressive Pro Bowl Kickoff” begins at 8 p.m. ET, leading directly into the Pro Bowl Games at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch the event across ESPN, Disney XD, ESPN Deportes, the ESPN App, and the NFL streaming hub.
The night opens with a series of skills competitions, including passing, catching, and relay-style challenges. Those performances aren’t just for show — the results actually determine the starting score for the AFC vs NFC flag football game that wraps up the event.
The NFL confirmed that every drill counts, with points from the skills portion carrying over into the final matchup.
Pro Bowl 2026 Players Are Coached By Hall of Famers
The AFC team features quarterbacks Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, along with offensive playmakers Ja’Marr Chase, Nico Collins, Jonathan Taylor, and Brock Bowers. Drake May was also voted into the Pro Bowl, but will be prepping for the Super Bowl instead.
On defense, standouts such as Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Patrick Surtain II, and Kyle Hamilton also earned Pro Bowl selections.
On the NFC side, quarterbacks Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Sam Darnold (non-participating) headline a group that also features Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, George Kittle, Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson, and Budda Baker. Several Seahawks players, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon, and Rashid Shaheed, will sit out because of Super Bowl preparation.
Two Pro Football Hall of Famers will coach this year’s teams: Jerry Rice leads the NFC, while Steve Young coaches the AFC. Both won Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and replace last year’s coaches, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning.
How to watch Super Bowl LX
Following the Pro Bowl Games, the focus shifts to Super Bowl LX, airing Sunday, Feb. 8, on NBC and Peacock.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will meet for the NFL championship in Santa Clara, California, in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
In that game, Tom Brady guided New England to a 28–24 victory that was sealed by a last-minute interception from Malcolm Butler after Seattle opted to throw from the 1-yard line with quarterback Russell Wilson under center.
This year, the Patriots return to the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years, led by quarterback Maye. The Seahawks make their first Super Bowl appearance since 2015 behind Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
How to Watch the Pro Bowl Games 2026: Time, Channel, Format, Players to Watch